Cairo – Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit on Thursday hit back at the United States for tying millions of dollars in military aid to Egypt’s human rights record.

KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghan troops killed 33 Taliban militants, including several commanders, in three operations in the country’s volatile south, officials said Thursday.

NATO defense ministers will hold talks with their Afghan counterpart on Friday as the United States urges allies to devote more resources to support the government in Kabul. U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said NATO’s 36,000-strong security force and a separate U.S.-led mission had made progress in fighting Taliban insurgents …